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CNET First Look

LG G2 Mini offers low-end specs at a mid-range price

The LG G2 Mini has the same name as its top-end brother, but its unimpressive lineup of specs leave a lot to be desired. Check out our video review.

2:34 / 9 May 2014

Transcript

[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
I'm Andrew Hoyle Steener, and this is the LG G2 mini. I'm Andrew Hoyle Steener, and this is the LG G2 mini.
It's the smaller, less powerful, but mercifully cheaper version of LG's flagship. It's the smaller, less powerful, but mercifully cheaper version of LG's flagship.
Now, it's a funny old world when a 4.7" phone can be called mini, but it is admittedly smaller than the 5.2" G2. Now, it's a funny old world when a 4.7" phone can be called mini, but it is admittedly smaller than the 5.2" G2.
It has a narrow bezel around the screen, which helps keep the body size down, so it actually has similar dimensions to the 4.5 inch Motorola Moto G. It has a narrow bezel around the screen, which helps keep the body size down, so it actually has similar dimensions to the 4.5 inch Motorola Moto G.
It's reasonably comfortable to use in one hand, although I'm not keen on the scratchy plastic back, which I think makes it feel a bit cheap. It's reasonably comfortable to use in one hand, although I'm not keen on the scratchy plastic back, which I think makes it feel a bit cheap.
Like the G2, it keeps its power and volume buttons on the back, rather than on the side. Like the G2, it keeps its power and volume buttons on the back, rather than on the side.
It's a nice idea in theory, as they're positioned exactly where your finger sits when you're holding the phone. It's a nice idea in theory, as they're positioned exactly where your finger sits when you're holding the phone.
Even so, I found they took a lot of getting used to, and I just don't think volume button position is a problem that needed fixing to begin with. Even so, I found they took a lot of getting used to, and I just don't think volume button position is a problem that needed fixing to begin with.
Although it bears the same name as the Flagship, the G2 mini is watered down in nearly every respect. Although it bears the same name as the Flagship, the G2 mini is watered down in nearly every respect.
The display has a very disappointing 960 by 540 pixel resolution, which is less than the Moto G's 1280 by 720 screen, and that costs less than half. The display has a very disappointing 960 by 540 pixel resolution, which is less than the Moto G's 1280 by 720 screen, and that costs less than half.
And at least has decent colors and is fairly bright, but it just doesn't have the clarity around icons or on text that you'd get from a higher resolution panel. And at least has decent colors and is fairly bright, but it just doesn't have the clarity around icons or on text that you'd get from a higher resolution panel.
The processor is heavily watered down too, with a 1.2 gigahertz quad-core chip inside, rather than the much more sprightly 2.2 chip in the G2. The processor is heavily watered down too, with a 1.2 gigahertz quad-core chip inside, rather than the much more sprightly 2.2 chip in the G2.
It handles the everyday tasks fine, but it starts to struggle when it comes to more demanding gaming. It handles the everyday tasks fine, but it starts to struggle when it comes to more demanding gaming.
Rather than the 30 megapixel camera of a G2, the Mini packs an 8 megapixel camera on the back. Rather than the 30 megapixel camera of a G2, the Mini packs an 8 megapixel camera on the back.
Which managed to take some good shots, and its HDR mode worked well. Which managed to take some good shots, and its HDR mode worked well.
The battery put in a strong performance on our drain test, and is removable in case you want to carry a spare. The battery put in a strong performance on our drain test, and is removable in case you want to carry a spare.
While the GT Mini does come with cheaper price than its big brother, it's seriously waters down all it's specs. While the GT Mini does come with cheaper price than its big brother, it's seriously waters down all it's specs.
If you're looking for a more pocketable phone with the Flagship, look towards the superb Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. If you're looking for a more pocketable phone with the Flagship, look towards the superb Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.
If you are on a budget though, the Motorola Moto G has a better screen, similar power and the same up to the minute version of Android KitKatapp, and it cost half the cost of the G2 Mini. If you are on a budget though, the Motorola Moto G has a better screen, similar power and the same up to the minute version of Android KitKatapp, and it cost half the cost of the G2 Mini.
The Moto G doesn't have 4G, but that's probably a good compromise considering the price. The Moto G doesn't have 4G, but that's probably a good compromise considering the price.
Safe to say the G2 mini is not quite the shrunken Flagship we'd hope it would be. Safe to say the G2 mini is not quite the shrunken Flagship we'd hope it would be.
I'm Andrew Hoyle for c|net and this is the LG G2 Mini. I'm Andrew Hoyle for c|net and this is the LG G2 Mini.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
I'm Andrew Hoyle Steener, and this is the LG G2 mini. I'm Andrew Hoyle Steener, and this is the LG G2 mini.
It's the smaller, less powerful, but mercifully cheaper version of LG's flagship. It's the smaller, less powerful, but mercifully cheaper version of LG's flagship.
Now, it's a funny old world when a 4.7" phone can be called mini, but it is admittedly smaller than the 5.2" G2. Now, it's a funny old world when a 4.7" phone can be called mini, but it is admittedly smaller than the 5.2" G2.
It has a narrow bezel around the screen, which helps keep the body size down, so it actually has similar dimensions to the 4.5 inch Motorola Moto G. It has a narrow bezel around the screen, which helps keep the body size down, so it actually has similar dimensions to the 4.5 inch Motorola Moto G.
It's reasonably comfortable to use in one hand, although I'm not keen on the scratchy plastic back, which I think makes it feel a bit cheap. It's reasonably comfortable to use in one hand, although I'm not keen on the scratchy plastic back, which I think makes it feel a bit cheap.
Like the G2, it keeps its power and volume buttons on the back, rather than on the side. Like the G2, it keeps its power and volume buttons on the back, rather than on the side.
It's a nice idea in theory, as they're positioned exactly where your finger sits when you're holding the phone. It's a nice idea in theory, as they're positioned exactly where your finger sits when you're holding the phone.
Even so, I found they took a lot of getting used to, and I just don't think volume button position is a problem that needed fixing to begin with. Even so, I found they took a lot of getting used to, and I just don't think volume button position is a problem that needed fixing to begin with.
Although it bears the same name as the Flagship, the G2 mini is watered down in nearly every respect. Although it bears the same name as the Flagship, the G2 mini is watered down in nearly every respect.
The display has a very disappointing 960 by 540 pixel resolution, which is less than the Moto G's 1280 by 720 screen, and that costs less than half. The display has a very disappointing 960 by 540 pixel resolution, which is less than the Moto G's 1280 by 720 screen, and that costs less than half.
And at least has decent colors and is fairly bright, but it just doesn't have the clarity around icons or on text that you'd get from a higher resolution panel. And at least has decent colors and is fairly bright, but it just doesn't have the clarity around icons or on text that you'd get from a higher resolution panel.
The processor is heavily watered down too, with a 1.2 gigahertz quad-core chip inside, rather than the much more sprightly 2.2 chip in the G2. The processor is heavily watered down too, with a 1.2 gigahertz quad-core chip inside, rather than the much more sprightly 2.2 chip in the G2.
It handles the everyday tasks fine, but it starts to struggle when it comes to more demanding gaming. It handles the everyday tasks fine, but it starts to struggle when it comes to more demanding gaming.
Rather than the 30 megapixel camera of a G2, the Mini packs an 8 megapixel camera on the back. Rather than the 30 megapixel camera of a G2, the Mini packs an 8 megapixel camera on the back.
Which managed to take some good shots, and its HDR mode worked well. Which managed to take some good shots, and its HDR mode worked well.
The battery put in a strong performance on our drain test, and is removable in case you want to carry a spare. The battery put in a strong performance on our drain test, and is removable in case you want to carry a spare.
While the GT Mini does come with cheaper price than its big brother, it's seriously waters down all it's specs. While the GT Mini does come with cheaper price than its big brother, it's seriously waters down all it's specs.
If you're looking for a more pocketable phone with the Flagship, look towards the superb Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. If you're looking for a more pocketable phone with the Flagship, look towards the superb Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.
If you are on a budget though, the Motorola Moto G has a better screen, similar power and the same up to the minute version of Android KitKatapp, and it cost half the cost of the G2 Mini. If you are on a budget though, the Motorola Moto G has a better screen, similar power and the same up to the minute version of Android KitKatapp, and it cost half the cost of the G2 Mini.
The Moto G doesn't have 4G, but that's probably a good compromise considering the price. The Moto G doesn't have 4G, but that's probably a good compromise considering the price.
Safe to say the G2 mini is not quite the shrunken Flagship we'd hope it would be. Safe to say the G2 mini is not quite the shrunken Flagship we'd hope it would be.
I'm Andrew Hoyle for c|net and this is the LG G2 Mini. I'm Andrew Hoyle for c|net and this is the LG G2 Mini.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

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